Substance Abuse Counselor- LCAS / LCAS-A / CADC

 Summary:  

The Substance Abuse Specialist is responsible for providing care under the supervision of a Team Leader, Program Director/Coordinator, or Clinical Director that will include education on substance abuse and promote harm reduction and abstinence to work toward recovery.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Conducts comprehensive substance abuse assessments considering the relationship between substance use and mental health.
• Assesses and tracks beneficiary’s stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
• Uses outreach and motivational interviewing techniques to work with beneficiaries in earlier stages of change readiness.
• Facilitates access to 12-step groups and other community supports.
• Uses cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention to work with beneficiaries in later stages of change readiness.
• Ensures that fellow service providers’ treatment approaches are consistent with the beneficiary’s stages of change readiness.
• Facilitates the Person-Centered Planning process for beneficiaries assigned to him or her.
• Facilitates group sessions.
• Takes a lead role in placement in short/long-term treatment as needed, and detox services.
• Participates in a first responder on-call system available to consumers and/or his/her natural support network on a 24/7/365 basis; coordinates “first response” resources according to consumer needs and the PCP.  
• Represent the company in a positive manner, reflective of the company’s mission, at all times.
• Ensures confidentiality regarding sensitive and protected information.
• Ensures individual rights to privacy and protected health information for the person supported.
• Assists Team Lead with service, agency, LME/MCO, state and/or federal documentation requirements and timelines such as NCTOPPs, PCPs/ITRs, and reminders relative to Clinical Monthly Summaries, Discharge Summaries, and Aggregate Reports.
• Completes Intake Packets for any of the referrals that the office receives.
• Accurately documents all billable encounters into Southeastern Integrated Care’s EMR (electronic medical record) system within 24 hours. Any corrections will be entered within 24 hours of being notified.
• Other duties as assigned.
• In addition, the employee must participate in all required training and education as mandated by the specific service line and clinical coverage policy.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position can involve overseeing staff. 

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

• Minimum High School Diploma

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong clinical skills
• Demonstrate knowledge of the population served.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• CCS, CSI, LCAS, LCAS-A, or CADC 
• Current license or certification must be maintained if applicable.   
• Valid NC driver’s license including personal vehicle insurance coverage.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 The work can be performed primarily in the client’s home/community, or the office setting. If work is in the home/community it may involve exposure to cigarette smoke, domestic animals/pets, household pests, uncomfortable heating/cooling, and other issues related to the domestic location in which service is delivered. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear; and taste and smell. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to drive and operate a personal vehicle safely and adhere to all applicable state and traffic laws.